Gryps Conflict

The Gryps Conflict (グリプス戦役, Guripusu Sen’eki), also known as the Gryps Conflict, was a devastating civil war within the Earth Federation that took place from UC 0087 to UC 0088. Initially beginning as a conflict between the Federation’s militarist Titans counter-insurgency task force and the anti-elitist Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG) and Karaba alliance, it later evolved into a three-way war involving the returning Axis Zeon.

Prelude

Following the end of the One Year War in UC 0080, the Earth Federation sought to rebuild its fighting power. However, the Gundam Development Project proved to almost be its undoing when the Delaz Fleet learnt of the RX-78GP02A Gundam “Physalis” and its nuclear warhead. The ensuing “Delaz Conflict”, better known as Operation Stardust, gave the Federation a major black eye, greatly decimating its military strength and publicly exposing their inability to deal with Zeon remnants.

During this time, Jamitov Hymen argued in favour of a group dedicated to ensuring that something like this would never happen again. To that end, the Federation allowed the creation of this group, known as the Titans. In theory, the Titans were meant to ensure no other Zeon-type rebellions could happen; in practice, however, it ended up much worse.

Whereas the Titans were once just a special military unit dedicated to stopping anti-Federation insurgencies and were allowed to act outside of the Federation’s jurisdiction, the power they gained through their successes led them to be much more brutal and expand their goal to include anyone who dared oppose Earth Federation policy. While many Earthnoids sought to join the Titans in light of their success, others—especially Spacenoids within the Federation—became fed up with the Titans and started to protest.

On 31 July UC 0085, a peaceful demonstration was held in Colony 30 at Side 1. This demonstration, however, got out of control. When the Federation authority failed to stop it, the Titans intervened by shutting down the colony’s air supply and pumping G3 nerve gas into the colony, killing all ten million inhabitants. Although a total press blackout was put in place to cover up the incident, the truth eventually emerged. When the Federation decided not to punish the Titans for this incident, the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG) was formed, under the leadership of former Federation officer Blex Forer.

Event

Heist of the Gundam Mk-II

The Gryps Conflict officially started on 2 March UC 0087, when a small AEUG squad led by Quattro Bajeena was dispatched to infiltrate the two Titans colonies at Side 7. During his reconnaissance mission in Green Noa II (Gryps), Quattro discovered that the new RX-178 Gundam Mk-II was being used to train Titans pilots at Gryps. Upon this discovery, the group decided to steal the new Gundam.

With the unexpected help of a civilian boy named Kamille Bidan, whose parents were Federation engineers responsible for the development of the Mark II, they were able to steal two of the three Mark II units. Because of the Titans’ brutality as well as their personal mistreatment of him, Kamille joined the AEUG despite his parents’ job. During this small battle the Titans were also confronted by the new RMS-099 Rick Dias mobile suit and the new assault carrier Argama.

However, Bask Om, who was on Green Noa 1, reacted very quickly and decided to take Kamille’s parents as hostages, ordering a young officer named Emma Sheen to deliver a message to the Argama in the remaining third Gundam Mark II. Despite Kamille’s best efforts to save his parents, they were both killed in the subsequent battles. Nevertheless, it was a success for the AEUG as Emma, who rejected Bask’s cruel methods, joined the AEUG and brought with her the third Mark II unit.

Journey to the Moon and Attack on Jaburo

After the successful heist, the Titans announced to the world that this incident was an act of terror committed by the AEUG, and the Alexandria began pursuit of the Argama. The Argama reached the Moon city Amman, where it was able to resupply. Quattro also received his new mobile suit, the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki, at Amman.

On 11 May, the AEUG commenced their attack on Jaburo. Their fleet dispatched dozens of ballute-equipped mobile suits to enter the atmosphere, but soon their forces were attacked by the Titans, along with Paptimus Scirocco’s PMX-000 Messala. Because the unusually empty Jaburo base was defended only by old and outdated mobile suits and fighters, the AEUG forces soon realised that something was wrong.

When the AEUG arrived within the subterranean levels, they discovered that the Titans had abandoned the base after setting up a timed nuclear bomb, leaving a large amount of the Federal Forces and the unaware AEUG to die in its blast radius. Scrambling to escape, the AEUG forces stole the Garuda-class aerial carrier Audhumla, and escaped before the bomb detonated and destroyed Jaburo. This was a major blow to AEUG, as they were unable to reduce the Titans’ strength and their best pilots were stranded on Earth.

Time on Earth: New Hong Kong and Africa Liberation

The AEUG met Karaba leader and former White Base member Hayato Kobayashi, who told them they had a possibility to bring their pilots back into space. However, the Audhumla was attacked by the Titans’ new transformable mobile weapons.

In the middle of the fight between the Earth Federation/Titans and AEUG/Karaba, Axis Zeon dispatched a special commando team to North Africa, assisting the Zeon remnants residing there. In June 0087, Zeon remnants succeeded in liberating North Africa from Federation control after defeating a division of Titans through guerrilla tactics.

Arrival of Axis Zeon

After their 20-month-long journey, the asteroid base Axis, which held a great part of the former Principality of Zeon members, finally arrived in the Earth Sphere on 12 October UC 0087. Because of its great military strength, Axis would be a powerful player in the Gryps Conflict and thus both the AEUG and the Titans sought to ally themselves with them.

The AEUG was the first party granted an audience with the leader of Axis, the eight-year-old Mineva Lao Zabi, who revealed that Quattro, who was actually Zeon ace pilot Char Aznable, was sent to Earth as an undercover agent. It was here that Quattro realised that Mineva was nothing more than a puppet for regent Haman Karn, the true leader of Axis, and his resulting confrontation with her destroyed any chance of an alliance with the AEUG. As a result, Axis allied itself with the Titans on the following day.

Strengthening Titans Position and Operation Apollo

While the major members of the AEUG operated on Earth, the Titans strengthened their position in space. The Republic of Zeon sided with the Titans and loaned them their asteroid fortress A Baoa Qu, which the Titans moved to Luna II. Together with the colony Gryps, they formed the Gate of Zedan, which became their new headquarters. Their former headquarters, Gryps, was split in half with one part being converted into a new colony laser.

On 10 August, a Titans fleet under the command of Scirocco and with assistance from the Republic of Zeon started Operation Apollo and occupied the lunar city Von Braun. With this plan, the Titans sought to further strengthen their position, although the AEUG was able to drive them away from the city. Despite this, the Federation senate was impressed and six days later placed a portion of Federation Forces under the command of the Titans after a very close vote. On 17 August, Blex Forer was assassinated by Titan officers, forcing Quattro to reluctantly assume leadership of the AEUG.

Attack on Kilimanjaro and Dakar Speech

At the beginning of November, the AEUG was informed that Karaba planned an attack on the Titans base on Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. The AEUG agreed to help them by attacking from Earth orbit, although Kamille and Quattro accidentally fell on Earth during the skirmish, where they joined Karaba’s frontline forces. Karaba was able to destroy the Titans base on 3 November, giving the resistance forces their first major victory, although Jamitov Hymen successfully escaped during the battle.

On 16 November, Quattro, Kamille and Karaba seized control of the Federation Assembly in Dakar, where Quattro revealed his true identity as Char Aznable and denounced the Titans before the whole world. His speech was strengthened by the fact that the Titans were fighting above the city without regard for the delegates or civilians, with the ensuing battle being broadcast across the entire Earth Sphere. Now unable to dismiss any claims against them, the Federation immediately withdrew its support for the Titans, forcing Jamitov and the majority of Titan forces to leave Earth and depart for the Gate of Zedan.

The Colony Laser Crisis

Looking to re-establish their might, the now-isolated Titans quickly developed plans to attack Space Colonies as a show of force. On 7 December, they used the colony laser to destroy Colony 18 of Side 2. One week later, Colony 21 of the same side was attacked with poison gas, which killed the entire population. The Titans later attempted another gas attack on Side 2, but was prevented by the AEUG.

Destruction of the Gate of Zedan and Leadership Changes

When it was revealed that the colony laser’s next target was the headquarters of Anaheim Electronics on the Moon, the sponsors of the AEUG decided to make a deal with Haman: they promised her Side 3 if she would destroy the colony laser and Haman agreed. On 18 January UC 0088, Haman used the Axis asteroid to ram the Gate of Zedan, destroying the Titans’ headquarters in space and a great part of their forces. Afterwards, the Axis forces captured the colony laser for themselves and Axis itself was set on a collision course with the Moon city Granada.

One week after this disastrous event, the negotiations between Axis and the Titans broke down. Taking advantage of the chaos, Scirocco killed Jamitov and placed the blame on Haman, quickly assuming leadership of the Titans. In addition, Titans general Bask Om was killed by Reccoa Londe, who now sided with Scirocco after defecting from AEUG. With both Titans leaders dead, Scirocco had the organisation completely in his grasp.

Operation Maelstrom and the Final Battle

On 2 February UC 0088, with the colony laser now in the hands of Axis and the asteroid fortress itself on a collision course with Granada, the AEUG began Operation Maelstrom in an effort to seize control of the laser for themselves; this name was chosen because the AEUG ships would continually circle the Axis fleet and fire into the centre, which would create the impression of a giant whirlpool, or maelstrom. The operation ended in success, and the giant asteroid was prevented from crashing into the lunar city.

Over two weeks later on 20 February, the forces of the AEUG, the remaining Titans under control of Scirocco, and the Axis Zeon met in a fleet battle around the colony laser. Scirocco tried to disable the laser before it could be positioned to destroy the remaining Titans fleet, but he was confronted by Kamille in a final battle. During this fight Kamille killed Scirocco and destroyed his powerful mobile suit PMX-003 The O, but not before Scirocco used a mental attack to cripple Kamille’s mind. In the meantime, Char confronted Haman and her powerful AMX-004 Qubeley, but his Hyaku Shiki was nearly destroyed and Char was listed as missing in action, while Haman retreated back to Axis.

On 22 February UC 0088, during the battle between the three forces, the Axis fleet pulled out to prepare for their invasion of Earth. Meanwhile, the remaining Titans were in the firing range of the colony laser and Bright Noa seized this chance to annihilate them, although the laser itself was rendered inoperable afterwards. Ultimately, this campaign ended in a pyrrhic victory for the AEUG.

Aftermath

At the end of the conflict, both the Titan and AEUG fleets lay in ruins, having decimated one another in the conflict. With the AEUG losing most of their ace pilots and the majority of the Titans wiped out by the colony laser, the stage was set for Axis Zeon to achieve their objective of the invasion of the Earth Sphere. By mostly staying out of the Federation’s Civil War, Axis had preserved its military force and now faced insufficient opposition to stop it, leading to the First Neo Zeon War.

Legacy

The Gryps Conflict fundamentally transformed the political and military landscape of the Earth Sphere. The destruction of the Titans as an organisation removed the immediate threat of Earth supremacist ideology, but at a tremendous cost. The Earth Federation itself was severely weakened, having lost the bulk of its military forces through defections and combat losses.

The conflict demonstrated the devastating potential of civil war within the Federation and highlighted the dangers of authoritarian military organisations operating with unchecked power. The AEUG’s victory proved that grassroots resistance movements could challenge oppressive regimes, but the pyrrhic nature of their triumph showed the terrible price of such conflicts.

Most significantly, the Gryps Conflict set the stage for the return of Zeon as a major power in the Earth Sphere, as Haman Karn’s Axis Zeon forces had carefully preserved their strength whilst the Federation tore itself apart.

Behind the scenes

The Gryps Conflict serves as the central narrative of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, directed by Tomino Yoshiyuki. The conflict was designed to explore themes of political corruption, the abuse of power, and the cyclical nature of war within the Universal Century timeline.

The English naming of this war had changed several times, beginning as “Gryps Conflict”, which was the direct transliteration from the Japanese name, and ended as “Gryps Conflict”, based on the official English subtitles given by GundamInfo; both are technically correct, because it initially started as an armed confrontation between AEUG against the Titans, making it akin to a civil war that developed into a full-blown war later.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation

External links

• Gryps Conflict on the Gundam Wiki
• Gryps Conflict on Wikipedia